Alinement mechanism for type-writers.



No. 69l,|89. V Patented Ian. l4, I902.

0. SEARS. ALINEMENT MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS. (Application filed Sept. 20, 1899. Renewed Juiy 18, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 69l,|89. Patented Jan. I4, I902.

C. SEARS.

ALINEMENT MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1899. Renewed July 18, 1901 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

fl ifnesseo" CHARLES SEARS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ALENEMENT MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691 ,189,

dated January 14, 1902.

Application filed September 20, 1899. Renewed July 18, 1901. Serial No. 68,838. (No model) To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES SEARS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga'and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Alinement Mechanism for Type-WVriters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates particularly to the class of type-writing machines which employ an oscillating type-carrier which moves in one direction or the other about its axis to bring its characters to the impression-point and an impression-hammer which forces the paper against the characters at the impression-point to make the impression.

The principal objects of the invention are to cause the characters to be printed in proper alinement on the paper and to prevent the paper from being soiled by contact with any character except that which is at the impression-point or with any other part of the machine which is capable of soiling it.

To this end the invention consists, in part, of the means hereinafter described for preventing that part of the type-carrier which is behind the impression-point from moving up or down.

The machine shown, in which the invention above referred to is embodied, is one which employs inking-rollers for inking the type, the inking-ribbon being discarded.

A part of the invention consists in the novel means which are particularly useful in a machine of this character for moving the paper toward and from the type-carrier for the double purpose of causing the proper alinement of the characters thereon and of preventing the paper from becoming soiled by contact with the inking-rollers.

The invention also consists, in part, of a novel shield which cooperates with the papermoving mechanism for protecting the paper from contact with any character except that which it is desired to print.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of so much of the type-writing machine as embodies my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is an enlarged plan view of the type-carrier, the means for preventing its up or down movement when a character is at the impression-point, and certain other parts of the mechanism. Fig. 4 is a central sectional side elevation of the mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the inking-rollers and a part of the arm by which they are carried. Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of some of the mechanism shown in Fig. et at the instant when the impression is being made.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents the type carrier or segment, which is secured to a vertical shaft F, capable of oscillating upon its axis in suitable bearings in the frame of the machine. This segment, as shown, consists of a substantially semicircular rim a, the hub a, and the arms a a which connect the rim with the hub, thereby making a rigid structure. The characters a are on the outer periphery of the rim. The type-carrier, to the extent above described, is of familiar form. It is not thought that it will be necessary to show or describe the mechanism for oscillating the type-carrier to bring the several characters to the impression-point, because a variety of mechanisms for this purpose are well known in this art and any suitable mechanism may be employed for the purpose. In the inner periphery of the rim of the type-segment is a horizontal groove a A rigid finger B, which is attached to the frame of the machine, is adapted to enter this groove when the segment is moved from its home position, and when the finger is in this groove all vertical movement of the type-segment or that part thereof which is immediately adjacent to the finger is prevented. In the inner periphery of the segmentis a notch a slightly wider than the finger, and it is in such position that when the segment is in its home position it is in such relation to the finger that the type-segment may be raised or lowered. When the type-segment is in its home position, there is preferably no character at the impression-point; but when the segment is moved away from its home position to bring any one of the characters to the impressionpoint the groove a in the segment takes over the end of the finger with the result before stated. Only one type-segment is shown but I do not intend thereby to limit the invention to use in a machine employing only one segment. In fact, the notch 01. is a feature of construction which adapts the invention to use with a plurality of similar segments, because it permits any segment to be moved into or above or below the plane of the reraining-finger when the segment is in itshome position.

A rotatable inking-platen C is mounted on a suitable fixed bracket-arm c, and suitable means may be provided for turning it step by step. An arm D, which is pivoted to the framework of the machine, has the inkingrollers d mounted in its end. This arm is of such shape and it and the inking-platen are so placed with reference to the type-segment that when the arm is moved upward the rollers roll across the face of that character which is at the impression-point and then. against the inking-platen to take more ink. This feature of the machine is shown, described, and claimed in a copending application of mine, Serial No. 724,379, filed July 19, 1899, and is not therefore any part of the invention sought to be claimed in this application. When this arm which carries the inking-rollers is in its normal position, the rollers are slightly below the row of characters on the type-segment, wherefore they do not interfere with the turning of said segment.

A transversely-movable carriage E, which is preferably made in skeleton form, is provided, as is customary in machines of this character, the paper passing between two rollers e e, which are mounted in the ends of the carriage, and by turning one or both of these rollers the paper may be moved up as far as desired to bring it into the desired position to receive a new line of impressions. Just above these rollers a swinging frame G is pivoted to ears g (which are fixed to the carriage) on an axis which is parallel to the axis of the rollers. This frame consists of two arms 9 g and two plates g 9 extending parallel to the axis and occupying normally a position back from the type-segment, which plates are secured to these arms in such position that there is room for the paper to pass between them. The impression is to be made upon the paper just above this frame. To that end a flexible tape 9 is secured by its ends to the arms 9 g of the swinging frame, and the end of the impressionhammer H lies just behind this tape. This tape is not essential, but is preferably used to prevent the impression-hammer from coming directly into contact with the paper,whereby it is believed that all liability of injury to the paper by the direct blow of the hammer will be prevented. The impression-hammer is pivoted in the usual way to a suitable part of the frame of the machine. Its normal position is some distance behind the type-carrier. It may be under the influence of a spring, which when permitted to act will move it toward the type-carrier. The mechanism for controlling the movement of the impression-hammer is no part of the present invention and is therefore not shown. In fact, as far as the present invention is concerned the hammer might be moved by hand whenever an impression is to be made on paper. Secured to the rear side of the hammer H is an arm 71, having a groove h in its rear side, and in this groove a rod J is held by means of a locking-finger h the rod being capable of freely moving endwise in the groove. The ends of this rod are secured to two links j j, which are pivotally connected with the said arms g g of the rocking frame G.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that when the hammer is moved forward to make the impression it causes this swinging frame G to be moved in the same direction, thereby carrying the paper close to the character upon the type-carrier, which paper is pressed against the said character by the end of the impression-hammer. When the hammer is retracted, it moves the swinging frame rearward, carrying the paper with it out of the way of the inking-rollers. An

arm K is pivoted to a rearwardly-extended bracketM, and this arm is pressed bya spring 7; against the beaded top edge 9 of the front plate gfibehind which the paper passes. Flexible arms 7c is are secured to this arm and extend transversely of the machine, and to these arms-are fastened a shield 7c -that is to say, a plate having a hole through which the character at the impression point may press against the paper, said plate lying between the other characters and the paper. When the swinging frame G,which carries the paper, is moved toward the characters, it pushes this spring-arm K, and thereby carries the shield into operative position-that is to say, close to the type-carrier, where it serves to protect the paper from contact with any character except that at the impression-point. When the swinging frame carrying the paper is moved rearward by the rearward movement of the hammer, the spring 70, acting upon the arm K, carries the shield rearward with it.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a pivoted type-carrier having an arcshaped rim with characters on its outer periphery, and a horizontal groove in its inner periphery, with a fixed finger adapted to engage in said groove, substantially as specified. 2. In a typewriting machine, a pivoted type-carrier having an arc-shaped rim having the characters on its outer periphery, and in its inner periphery a horizontal groove, a stationary finger which projects into said groove and a vertical notch crossing said groove, sub

'stantially as specified.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a transversely-movable carriage, feedrolls for the paper mounted on said carriage, and a swinging frame mounted on the car riage on an axis parallel with the feed-rolls, the impression-hammer, and mechanism connecting the hammer and swinging frame whereby the frame is moved by the hammer, substantially as specified.

4:. In a type-writing machine, the combination of the transversely-movable carriage,and feed-rolls for the paper mounted thereon, with a swinging frame having two parallel plates between which the paper passes, the impression-hammer having an arm provided with a recess, two links pivotally connected with said swinging frame, and a rod connecting said two links and movable through the recess in the hammer-arm, substantially as specified.

5. In a type-writing machine the combination of the carriage, feed-rolls for the paper mounted thereon, and a swinging frame consisting of a rock-shaft mounted in said carriage, arms secured to said rock-shaft, two parallel plates secured to said arms, and a strap secured to the arms above said plates, with the impression-hammer having its face behind said strap, and connections between said frame and hammer, substantially as specified.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a pivoted type-segment having characters on its outer periphery, a lever pivoted to the machine-frame, a shield for the characters on the type-segment adjacent to the impression-point, a flexible connection between said shield and lever, and means for rocking the lever to carry said shield into and away from its operative position, substantially as specified.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an oscillating type-segment having characters on its outer periphery, the transversely-movable carriage, feed-rolls for the paper mounted thereon, a swinging frame also mounted on said carriage andhaving parallel plates between which the paper passes, with the impression-hammer, mechanism connecting said impression-hammer and frame, a le ver-arm pivoted to the frame of the machine, a spring for holding said arm in engagement with said swinging frame, a shield, and a flexible connection between said shield and lever-arm, substantially as specified.

8. In a type-writing machine containing a pivoted type-carrier, the combination of a transversely-movable carriage, and feed-rollers for the paper mounted thereon, with a swinging frame mounted upon the carriage on an axis parallel with the feed-rollers, a spring actuated impression hammer, and mechanism connecting said hammer and swinging frame whereby the hammer moves the frame toward the type-wheel when the hammeris making its impression-stroke, substantially as specified.

9. In a type-writing machine containing a movable carriage upon which feed-rolls are mounted, the combination of a swinging frame which is pivoted at its lower edge on an axis which is parallel with the feed-rolls and has near its upper edge two plates between which the paper may pass, with a pivoted impression-hammer, and mechanism connecting said hammer and swinging frame, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES SEARS. Witnesses:

E. L. THURSTON, ALBERT H. BATES. 

